The Study of Islam by Hindu Thinkers in India and Its Contemporary Relevance

By Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi, New Age Islam

15 January 2026

Abstract:

This article explains that good human relationships and social peace depend on understanding different religions and studying them fairly. In India, a country known for its many religions and cultures, this understanding is very important for living together peacefully. Sadly, people have not made enough effort to learn about religions other than their own, which has caused confusion and lack of trust.

The article shows that studying different religions can reduce hatred, increase trust, and improve social relationships, especially when such studies are encouraged in schools and universities. Indian history tells us that many Hindu thinkers studied Islam with respect and openness. They wrote about Islamic ideas, translated important texts, and helped develop Islamic knowledge. Scholars such as Brahmagupta played an important role in sharing knowledge between India and the Islamic world.

The study of Islam by Hindu thinkers is not just an academic activity. It represents dialogue, shared culture, and social harmony. In today’s world, fair and honest study of religions is more important than ever to promote tolerance, respect, and peaceful living in a diverse society like India.

Main Points:

·         Interfaith understanding is essential for social harmony and the survival of diverse human relationships.

·         Objective study of religions helps remove misconceptions, prejudice, and unnecessary mistrust between communities.

·         India’s plural identity depends on dialogue, mutual respect, and sincere understanding of different religions.

·         Hindu scholars historically studied Islam respectfully and contributed to Islamic knowledge and culture.

·         Serious interreligious studies today can promote tolerance, peace, and coexistence in modern plural societies.

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The survival of human relationships and the strength of social diversity depend largely on the presence of interfaith understanding and mutual religious awareness in society. Such harmony can only be achieved when religions are studied objectively and without prejudice. Unfortunately, our society has not yet made a systematic and organised effort in this direction. Mentally, we are still not fully prepared to study religions other than our own. Although some valuable research was carried out in the past, our present attitude towards interreligious studies is undoubtedly a matter of concern.

Interreligious studies are a field that can produce far-reaching and highly beneficial results if promoted in society and educational institutions. The study of religions not only removes misunderstandings and distances but also creates an atmosphere of trust and meaningful connection among communities, nations, and followers of different faiths. Today, society urgently needs mutual trust, improved relationships, and stronger social bonds. Alongside protecting pluralistic literature and traditions, there is also a need to benefit from them in practical ways.

It is widely recognised that India is a remarkable centre of diverse religions, beliefs, and ideas. The beauty and strength of this country lie in its cultural diversity, social plurality, and religious pluralism. However, this distinction can only be preserved if people make sincere efforts to understand one another’s religions, beliefs, cultures, and traditions. Dialogue and meaningful conversation must be strengthened. It should be remembered that a society becomes confused or distrustful when it lacks accurate knowledge about others. This is precisely the situation today: many misunderstandings arise simply because people do not possess correct information about religions other than their own.

Misconceptions and negative attitudes towards other faiths can only be removed through the serious study of different religions, cultures, and civilisations, and through open dialogue with followers of other faiths. At the same time, such study and dialogue must be conducted positively. One should not approach another religion with preconceived opinions, nor should dialogue be driven by the desire to defeat or dominate others. If scholars, researchers, and intellectuals adopt such a balanced and constructive approach, it will undoubtedly have a positive impact on society. Today, the need for understanding and the removal of misunderstandings is greater than ever, and this requires broad-mindedness and a positive, balanced attitude.

It is true that scholars and thinkers have rendered valuable services in studying Hinduism as well as other Semitic and non-Semitic religions. However, such research is still not being carried out on the scale required by the contemporary age.

An important aspect of a pluralistic society and shared values is the study of each other’s religions, traditions, cultures, and civilisations. Writing about religions other than one’s own is a vital scholarly responsibility. If we examine Indian history and its intellectual achievements, it becomes clear that many Hindu scholars have written extensively on Islam. They did not merely write about it; they often used respectful, balanced, and appreciative language while discussing Islamic teachings. Therefore, portraying Hindus as opponents of Islam, or spreading hatred against Islam in their hearts, reflects ignorance of Indian history and its rich intellectual traditions.

In this context, Professor Akhtarul Wasey, in his article “The Contributions of Hindu Scholars to Islamic Studies” published in Rashtriya Sahara Urdu, rightly points out that the relationship between Hindus and Islam is as old as Islam itself. From the very early period of Islamic history, India and Muslims maintained deep and friendly contacts. Arab traders and travellers visited India even before the arrival of Islam, and Indian goods were highly valued in the Arab world. These historical connections facilitated mutual understanding and respect, which later contributed to the emergence of what is now known as Indo-Islamic culture.

History also shows that just as Muslims studied sciences and disciplines beyond their own religious framework, Hindu scholars too studied Islamic civilisation, history, and intellectual traditions. They translated Islamic texts, contributed to various fields of knowledge, and authored works on the Qur’an, Hadith, and the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Professor Akhtarul Wasey highlights that Hindu scholars began contributing to Islamic sciences within a century of Islam’s arrival, and this tradition has continued for nearly thirteen centuries.

Figures such as Brahmagupta played a crucial role in the translation movement in Baghdad, where Indian knowledge significantly influenced the Islamic world. These intellectual exchanges revolutionised mathematics and science and left a lasting impact on human civilisation. Similarly, in Kashmir, Hindu scholars translated Persian and Islamic works into Sanskrit, contributing to a shared intellectual heritage even before the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate.

In the light of these facts, it can confidently be said that the study of Islam by Hindu thinkers is a vital subject in the intellectual, religious, and cultural history of the Indian subcontinent. Over the centuries, Hindu scholars, thinkers, and social reformers have studied Islam to understand its teachings, sometimes critically and sometimes comparatively. This engagement was not merely driven by religious curiosity but was shaped by social harmony, dialogue, political conditions, and shared cultural life.

The nature of Hindu engagement with Islam has varied across different historical periods. In the early phases, it was largely based on social and historical observation. Later, especially during the colonial period, Hindu intellectuals examined Islam as a structured religion, an ethical system, and a social order. Thinkers such as Mahatma Gandhi, Rajendra Prasad, and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan appreciated Islamic values such as monotheism, human equality, moral discipline, and social justice. Some Hindu scholars directly studied the Qur’an, the Prophet’s biography, and Islamic history, offering balanced and fair assessments.

Although certain writings also reflect misunderstandings or political biases, the overall tradition of Hindu engagement with Islam represents an important symbol of interfaith dialogue. In the contemporary world, this subject has gained even greater importance. Only serious, objective, and scholarly study can promote religious harmony, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence in a plural society like India.

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Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi is an author and a New Age Islam Regular Columnist.

URL: https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/study-of-islam-by-hindu-thinkers-in-india-/d/138450

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